So I've decided to be proactive and tell my kids what I want for mother's day. Here it is:

What I Want for Motherís Day

Dear Children,

Motherís Day is coming up, and I thought I should tell you what I want. This way thereís no guilty panic or last minute purchasing of flowers at the closest gas station. So, this is what I want, this year and every year after; itís pretty simple really.

I want you to be a decent human being.

I want you to be who you are, but donít be an asshole.

I want you to work hard at everything you do, because life is too short not to give it everything youíve got.

I want you to ask for help when you need it.

I want you to help others when they need it.

I want you to learn how to cook, do your own laundry, pay your bills and know how to clean a bathroom.

When you screw up, and you will, more than once, I want you to own it, because itís the screw-ups that make the victories sweeter.

I want you to travel, because the world is huge and you are one part of it.

I want you to know that even when we hate each other, I will never stop loving you.

I want you to play nicely with others.

I want you to feed your curiosity.

I want you to find a way to do what you love, and realize that that might look different than you originally thought.

I want you to respect every human beingís right to be who they are.

I want you to sometimes be more interested in someone else than in yourself.

I want you to know that you are flawed and you are extraordinary. There is no one else like you.

I want you to know that I would lay down my life for you in Lily Potter fashion any day of the week.

I want you to realize how lucky you are every once in awhile even if only for an instant.

I want you to know love, even if it means getting hurt.

I want you to relax and not feel guilty about it.

I want you to know life can be brutally hard sometimes.

I want you to know that you can choose happiness even when the dark side offers you cookies.